Review: 1995 BMW 325is

Introduction

The 1995 BMW 325is is a lightweight, fun and great starter car for anyone interested in learnig and an amazing driving experience. This was my first car, purchased in 2016 for a measly $1800. Despite its age, it was still in decent shape and was a solid platform for future modifications. I initially purchased the vehicle with plans to turn it into a drift car. But eventually I decided that I really wasn’t into that sport, so I went and and treated it as a street car instead.

A Brief History of the E36

Before getting into my ownership experience, it would be good to get some history about the e36 chassis. The BMW E36 3 Series was introduced in 1990 as the successor to the E30. The E36 was a significant step forward in terms of design, performance, and technology, and it quickly established itself as one of the most popular BMW models of all time. The 1995 BMW 325is is considered by many enthusiasts to be the best of the E36 lineup due to its lightweight and nimble handling characteristics.

The 325is is powered by BMW’s venerable M50 engine, a naturally aspirated inline-six producing 189 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. While these figures may not seem impressive by modern standards, the lightweight chassis and well-balanced suspension of the E36 make for an engaging and thrilling driving experience.

The E36 was praised for its exceptional build quality, reliability, and innovative features. These qualities, combined with the car’s performance capabilities, have earned the E36 a reputation as one of the greatest driver’s cars ever made.

Today, the E36 is a highly sought-after platform for both street and track use, with a thriving aftermarket community providing an endless array of performance upgrades and modifications.

Dealing with Classic Issues

However, with any car, there are always issues to deal with. One of the classic issues with the E36 is the power steering hardlines leaking, which was something I had to address early on. Another issue I encountered was the clutch fan literally exploding and poking holes in the upgraded Mishimoto aluminum radiator, leading to overheating problems. But the most significant issue I faced was the slave cylinder failure, which caused me to have to remove the transmission from the vehicle off in my driveway with no power tools and no lift. This was my first time delving deep into working on cars, and it was an invaluable learning experience but I realized some years later I cant work on cars on jackstands anymore. I really need a lift.

Upgrades and Modifications

Regardless, after getting the car running again, I started to focus on upgrades and modifications. One of the first modifications I made was to swap out the Getrag transmission that came with the car for a ZF transmission that came with the M3. The ZF is known to be a much more robust transmission, capable of handling higher power levels and abuse.

I also did some suspension upgrades, including installing coilovers, sway bars, and strut braces. These upgrades improved the handling and made the car more responsive.

Future Plans

Looking to the future, I have some big plans for this car. I plan to eventually turbocharge the original M50 motor, which should give the car a significant power boost. In fact, I had already built the motor going with a basic head gasket spacer to decrease compression and give me the ability to run more boost. Unfortunately, I made a serious error by not getting the head resurfaced and found a head gasket leak after installing the new motor. After this failure, I decided to swap in another stock longblock purchased for $150 from Iowa, which is now working perfectly.

Eventually though, I will move on to my ultimate goal: to swap in a junkyard LS motor and twin-turbo it. This will require a lot of custom fabrication work that I will have to learn to do, but I believe it will make for an incredibly fun and unique driving experience.

Conclusion

Overall, the 1995 BMW 325is is an excellent car for anyone looking to get into the world of performance driving. It’s lightweight, responsive, and has a great driving feel. However, it’s not without its issues, and working on it can be a challenge. But that’s part of the fun, and it’s how I learned to become more mechanically competent. With some upgrades and modifications, this car can be an absolute monster to drive. And with future plans to turbocharge and swap in an LS motor, I believe this car will continue to be a source of joy and learning for years to come.